By Maggie Ball

The Radical Fish are coming.

And Howard Riopelle is responsible.

Howard Riopelle is a an exceptionally talented and gifted artist whose work spans a wide range of media, including computer graphics, illustration, technical art, metalwork, drawing and painting. He left a position as an award-winning illustrator at IBM to pursue his art. Thankfully, he found his way to Carroll Community College six years ago and we have benefited year after year from his dedication, integrity and skill in the classroom. He teaches everything the art department offers with professionalism and a large dose of humor. He volunteers whenever there is a need and he kept the art department running smoothly while I was on sabbatical in India.

His determination to make his own art has created many hurdles, often requiring him to work several part-time jobs but he has always made teaching at Carroll a priority. He is a kind and generous person with a delightful sense of fun. He is a sculptor who works in welded metal and his art reflects great insight and lightness of heart. His calm and unflappable nature, combined with his ready wit, make him a treasured asset here at Carroll.

The campus knoll above the pond will be the setting for our first piece of public art, the Radical Fish Project, designed and produced by Howard. The project began as a possible exhibit and became, upon consideration by the college, an exciting and much anticipated public project. The metal fish will "swim" with the wind in a school, moving freely on support poles. One lone fish, the Radical Fish, will swim alone! We leave him to your imagination.

We look forward to the Radical Fish as a public symbol of Carroll Community College's commitment to the arts and to the continued enhancement of excellence in arts education.

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